After a rather hectic week, it was nice to visit one of our favourite birding places. We met at Newhey, in the dark, as the days/nights begin to draw in and with Bob K driving were soon on our way to the Spurn area. Last weeks Red eyed Vireo had been reported yesterday as still being down by the point, but no news about it meant having a good search around would be the order of the day. We started at Sammy`s Point on a dull and fresh morning with a few Redwing, Fieldfare being seen. I noticed a familiar bird perched up as I had walked on in the form of a female Ring Ouzel, but after a good search for the bird I was unable to get the rest of our team on to it. Mistle & Song Thrushes were also seen along with Chiff-Chaff, Great Tit then I saw a warbler with a good eye stripe and what appeared to be orangey legs, despite a good search around it wasn`t seen again? A solitary Wheatear was found in the horse paddock but very little else.
A couple of House Martins and a few Brambling were seen in the Beacon Lane area, we then checked out the sighting of a Hawfinch around the obs garden without any joy. A decision to have a seawatch proved to be a good one with Great, Arctic & Pomarine Skua being seen along with a few distant terns. Masses of Gannets were also passing mainly south with lots of juvenile types, it looks like they have had a good breeding season then. Various auks and an unknown shearwater also passed by during our time sea watching. A trip to the café on the caravan site again proved to be very popular with a warming drink and some sustenance. A call from Darren W telling us about a well-marked Long tailed Duck that was on Borrow Pit near the Blue Bell carpark soon had us enjoying this beautiful sea duck, thanks Darren. After the last two visits we have made to Spurn, we have decided to leave mid-afternoon and good birds have been found after our departure e.g. Great Snipe. So after a good days birding in the area another early departure was made, but this time nothing too exciting was found after we left!
